Blank feeding apparatus



Dec; 24,1957 B. A. WITTKUHNS Er BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 5. 1954 INVENTORS .B/ru v A. W/TTKUHNS. BY G/LBERT E H/LLATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1957 a. A. WITTKUHN S ETA 2,817,517

' BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1954 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR$=. BRUNO A. WITTKUHNS G/LBERT F HILL Maw A TTORNEK Dec. 24,1957 a. A. WITTKUHNS ETAL 2,8

7 BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5. 1954 '4 Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTORS -BRUNO ,4. WITTKUHNS BY GILBERT E HILL M J W A TTORNEX Des.24, 1957 B. A. WITTKUHNS EIAL 2,8

BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5. 1954 INVENTORSBRu/vo A. WITTKUHNS G/LBERT F H ATTORNEY United States Patent BLANKFEEDING APPARATUS Bruno A. Wittkuhns and Gilbert F. .Hill, Skaneateles,N. Y., assignors to TheGardner Board &. Carton (10., Middletown, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio eApplication January 5, 1954, Serial No. 402,242

12 Claims. (Cl. 271-23) Thisinvention relates to blank feeding apparatusand more particularly to apparatus for positively andsuccessivelyseparating and removing relatively long and flexible blanks from an edgesupported stack of similar blanks and depositing the same inpredetermined spaced relationshipon a blank conveyor.

Elongated and flexible blanks made from paperboard, fiberboard and likesheet material are diflicult to separate and deposit on a blank conveyorin predetermined spaced relationship. One of the reasons for thisdifficulty is the tendency of the endmost blank to adhere to the nextadjacent blank which often resultsin the disposition of two or moreblanks in adhered relation on theblank conveyor. Also, a stack ofelongated and flexible blanks supported in-the blank tray in verticallytilted position, have a decided tendency to outbow along theirlongitudinal lengths, making it difiicult to' grip and engage onlyatheendmost blank in a mannerto remove the same from the blank stack fordisposition on the blank conveyor. As a result, two or more adheredblanks are often removed and deposited, or no blank is deposited on-theblank conveyor. Such outbowing flexure of the elongated blanks whenstacked and supported on tliebottom edges thereof oftenresults from thebowed set which the'blanks have assumed'from previous stacking,.oras aresult of surface irregularities, or as a result of scoring previouslyapplied to the blanks, or as a result of the inherent flexibilitycharacteristics of the material from :whichthe elongated blanks areformed. Devices presently employed for feedingsuccessive endmost'blanksfrom a blank'pile stackedionedge and in tilted position, in the blanktrayare also: rendered inoperative or unreliable in operation when. morethan .a relatively few blanks are stacked in the tray, because of thepressure which theweight of the following, blanks exert on the endmostblank to be removed.

This invention is directed .to the provision of blank feeding apparatusoperative to separate successive endmostblanks ,from an edge-stackedfile of similarqblanks of elongated form and having flexibilitycharacteristics and to deposit the successive endmost blanksin accuratesequential order and in any desired predetermined and uniform spacedrelationship.

Another object of this invention is to providemechanism for feedingelongated flexible blanks operatingin synchronism with a blank conveyorin a manner to insure any desired and selective spacing deposition ofthe successive separate blanks onto the blank conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to provide. animproved method andapparatus for positively and successively withdrawing and ejecting theendmost blank from a pile of blanks supported on edge in-inclinedposition in a blank supporting tray, irrespective of the number ofblanks which are stacked-in thetray.

Other objects; and advantages of :thisinvention will become apparent asthe disclosure proceeds.

Although the-characteristic features =ofathis invention l b ma t cula ypqin l out i th laims the i ention itself, and the manner in which itmay be carried Patented Dec. 24, 1957 out, may be better understood byreferring to thefollowing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of the blank feeding apparatus in association with oneend of ablankconveyor, certain parts being shown in section torevealstructural details;

Fig. 2 is a plan-view of one form of elongated flexible blank on whichthe blank feeding apparatus ofthis invention is adapted to operate;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the *blank feeding apparatusand associated conveyor as'thesame would appear when viewedalong line 33of-Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectionalview of the blankfeeding apparatus as the samewould appear when viewed alongline 4-4 ofFig. l, thisview showing the endmost blank of the blank stack in dot and-dashlines as'it would appear when in process of removal from'the blankstack and outbowed along its vertical axis;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross section of the'upper and lower blankpicker-rolls and a fragmentary crosssection of the blank stack to besuccessively removedjfrom .the blank supporting tray;

Fig. 6 is another diagrammatic cross section of'the paired blank pickerrolls in process of removing theiendmost blank from the blank stack;

Fig. 7 is a further diagrammatic'cross section of" the paired blankpicker rolls as the same would appear when the endmost blank has beenreleased from the lower picker rolland in process of discharge onto theblank conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the power drivewhich may be employed todrive the blankppickerrolls and blank conveyor in operating synchronism;

Fig. 9-is a verticalcross section'of a modifiedblank feeding mechanismhaving a single blank picker roll mounted in operating association witha blank conveyor; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross section of the single picker roll ofFig. 9 in process of removing the endmost blank from the blank stack.

Similar reference characters refer to similar "parts throughout theseveral views of'the'drawings and specification.

Thereis shown in Fig. '2 byway of illustration a plan view of one formof elongated flexible blank A made from paperboard or fiberboard andcalipering only twenty to Lthirty thousandths of aninch in thicknesswhich the feeding mechanism of this invention is adapted'to operatetoseparate andfeed successive endmost blanks from a blank stack inpositive, uniform and successive order onto the blank conveyor. Theblank AshowninFig. 2 is particularly designed to provide a carrier for agroup of six cans measuring in the order of eight inches in width andtwenty-one inches long and which 'has substantial longitudinalflexibility by reason of the seriesof transverse scores 0 extendingsubstantially parallelito the end edges b--b' thereof and between theside edges aa' thereof. While blank feeding aparatus may be made inaccordance with this invention to feed other'andldifferent'types ofelongated flexible blanks than theblank shown in Fig- 12, theblank shownin Fig. 2 will be taken as typicalin describing the operation ofthe'blank feeding apparatus of this invention.

The improved blank feeding apparatus of this invention comprises a blanksupporting tray 10 as shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 4, supported uponvertically inclined front .frame members 11 which may be swingablyconnected'as by hinge. pins 12 to a frame structuresuc h' as thevertical'end posts 61 associated with the blank conveyor. The upper endofeach of the =inclined frame members 11 maybeadjustablyattached'tosapair of inclined bracing struts 13, one end ofwhich is attached to the framework of the ma- 2,817,517 D r h chine andthe other end provided with a series of spaced attaching holes 13 towhich a securing bolt 13" may be selectively inserted to thereby permitadjustment of the adjacent frame member 11 to any desired inclination.The tray framework may comprise a bottom frame member 14 suitablyconnected to the inclined frame members 11 adjacent the lower endsthereof, a rear frame member 16 and a pair of spaced side frame members15 secured to the front frame member 14- and the rear frame member 16.Thus the front frame member 14, side framemembers 15 and rear framemember 16 provide a rigid bottom framework for the blank supportingtray.

To protect the bottom horizontal edge of the blank stack, a false bottommember 17 is provided which may be made of sheet metal and may besupported upon and secured to the bottom frame members l4, l5 and 16.The blank stack placed in the tray rests on an inclined slide plate 18extending longitudinally of the tray and fixed to and supported upon thefalse bottom member 17. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 4 that theslide plate 18 is relatively narrow in width so that only a relativelynarrow length of the bottom edge of the blanks is supported thereon,thereby reducing friction between the supporting slide plate and theblank stack so that the blank stack will readily slide forward on theinclined slide plate 18 as the successive endmost blanks are removed.

The blank supporting tray is also provided with side .panels 19 of anydesired height which may be formed of sheet metal and secured as byclips 20 to the vertically inclined frame members 11 as shown in Fig. 4so that the inside face of each side panel 19 presents a substantiallyflush surface 19' with the adjacent inside face of the inclined framemembers 11. To strengthen the construction, a pair of bracing bars 21may be secured at one end thereof by a connecting pin or bolt 21' to theupper end of the adjacent inclined frame members 11 and similarlysecured at the other end thereof as by a connecting pin or bolt 21" tothe rear end of the side frame members 15.

To further guide the forward movement of the blank stack within theblank supporting tray 10, a horizontally extending blank guiding bar 22may be provided as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3 whichpresents an inclined guide leg 22' whose front horizontal edge is inclose proximity to the upper horizontal edge of the endmost blank. Theguide bar 22 may be adjustably mounted on spaced brackets 23 adjustablysecured as by screws 23' to the adjacent inclined frame members 11. Theinside face 19 of the side panels 19 and adjacent inside face of theinclined frame members 11 are so spaced as to comfortably receive theelongated blanks A therebetween but to nevertheless maintain the blanksin the stack in true alignment without imposing friction on the endedges b-b' of the blanks or otherwise impede the normal forward slidingmovement of the blank stack as the successive endmost blanks areremoved.

To maintain the forwardly inclined endmost blank in proper operativeposition within the tray until positively removed therefrom by mechanismwhich will be presently described, a pair of semicircular retaining ribs25 are provided at the forward end of the tray as shown in Figs. 1, 3and 4 which have an overall length somewhat less than the overallvertical height of the blanks contained in the blank tray. Eachretaining rib 25 is secured to a mounting bracket 26 which may beangular in form and which presents a blank guiding leg 27 whose interiorface 27' is substantially flush with the inside face of the adjacentinclined frame member 11. Each of the mounting brackets 26 is alsoprovided with an attaching leg 28 which is suitably secured to theadjacent inclined frame member 11. Each of the semicircular retainingribs 25. shown in Fig. 3, is secured to the inside face of the guide leg27 of the mounting bracket and adjacent the free edge of the guide leg27. Thus the semicircular retaining ribs 25 normally provide abutmentsagainst which the vertical end edges b-b of the endmost blank isdesigned to abut and thereby retain the endmost blank in forwardlyinclined position within the tray until forcibly removed from the tray.

An important feature of this invention is the PIOVISIOII of mechanismfor positively and successively removing only the endmost blank from astack of elongated flexible blanks contained within and supported by aninclined blank tray of the general type above described. This mechanismmay comprise an upper blank picker rod or roll 30 and a lower blankpicker roll 35 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 and which may be made ofsteel or other metal. The upper blank picker roll 30 may be formedintegral with or mounted on a separate mounting shaft 31 extendinghorizontally adjacent the upper edge of the endmost blank. The pickershaft 31 is journaled in spaced bearing blocks 32 which may be securedto the adjacent inclined frame members 11. One of the ends of the pickershaft 31 projects through the adjacent bearing block 32 and has a drivensprocket 33 secured to the projecting end thereof.

The lower blank picker roll 35 extends horizontally along and directlyadjacent the lower horizontal edge of the endmost blank of the blankstack and may be formed integral with or suitably secured directly to amounting shaft 36 journaled in spaced bearing blocks 37 secured to theadjacent inclined frame members 11. The picker shaft 36 has an endportion which projects through one of the bearing blocks and has adriven sprocket 38 attached thereto.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper and lower blankpicker rolls 30 and 35 are centered with respect to the longitudinallength of the endmost blank and have a length which may be varied inaccordance with the longitudinal length of the blank and its flexibilitycharacteristics. It has been found advantageous to make the length ofthe blank picker rolls 30 and 35 in the approximate order of one-halfthe length of the blank but may vary between one-fourth to three-fourthsof the blank length. The terminal ends of the blank picker rolls 30 and35 should be spaced some distance from the blank retaining ribs 25. Thediameter of the blank picker rolls 30 and 35 should be relativelysmallin comparison to the blanks to be removed from the blank supportingtray.

Thus the diameter of the picker rolls 30 and 35 may be in the order ofone-twentieth to one-fifth of the width of the blank, and a preferablediameter in the order of oneeighth to one-twelfth of the width of theblank.

It will also be noted by referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 that thehorizontal axis of the upper and lower picker rolls 30 and 35 ispositioned approximately in the plane of the respective upper and lowerhorizontal edges of the blank stack and so located that the upper edge aof the endmost blank normally rests against and is supported by theconvolute shaped peripheral surface 30 of the upper picker roll 30, withthe lower horizontal edge a of the endmost blank in supporting contactwith the convolute shaped surface 35. By referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7,it will also be noted that the discharge end 18 of the slide plate 18terminates short of the lower horizontal edge of the endmost blank A sothat the endmost blank no longer rests on the discharge end 18' of theslide plate 18, but only the following blanks are so supported. Theendmost blank is nevertheless temporarily retained in alignedassociation with the following blanks by the inner abutment edge 25' tothe semicircular retaining ribs 25 and by the convolute peripheralsurfaces 30 and 35 of the upper and lower picker rolls 30 and 35.

It will be noted that the convolute peripheral surface 30' of the upperpicker roll 30 is provided with a shoulder 30 extending substantiallyradially of the roll and has a radial length which closely approximatesthe thickness of the blank to be fed. The convolute surface 35' of thelower picker roll 35 is also provided with a similar radially extendingshoulder 35" whose radial length '5 also "approximately equal to thethickness of-the blank to befed.

It will also be noted by referring to Figs. 5 and 7 that the-upperandlower picker rolls 30and 35 rotate in oppositedirections and in timedrelationship so that the radial shoulder 35" of theclockwise rotatedlower picker roll 35 will strike the lower horizontal edge ofthewendmost blank slightly in :advance of engagement ibetween the radialshoulder 30" of the counterclockwise rotated upper picker roll 30 andthe upper horizontal edge of the endmost blank. Thus the clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation of the lower and upper picker rollst'dlliand:35 .is so synchronizedythat the radial shoulder 35".:0f31the: lowerrollwill contactthe lower horizontal edge of the endmost blank and givethe blanka slight upwardly lifting movement so as to thereby break theadhesion between the endmost blank and adjacent following blank beforethe radial shoulder :30" ofthe upper roll engagesthe upper horizontaledge of the endmost blank.

Upon continued.counterclockwise and clockwise .rotation of the upper andlower ,picker rolls 30 and35, the top and bottom horizontal edges of theendmost blank will be' firmly gripped by the roll shoulders 35 and 30"to thereby buckle the blank outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Duringcontinued buckling -movement of the endmost blank, the end edges b--b'thereof are drawn over the crown bulge 25 of the retaining ribs '25 andthus freed fromfurther abutment support and are thenceforth supportedonly by 'the pickershoulders 30" and 35 of the upper and lowerrolls.When the lower picker roll 35 has been rotated to the approximateposition shown in Fig. 6, the lower horizontal edge of thelongitudinally buckled blank will snap loose from the lower roll 35,thereby causing the endmost blank to reflatten to its originallyapproximatelyflat condition as shown in Fig. 7. The dispensed blank willthen drop onto the blank conveyor associated with the blank feedingmechanism without further assistance.

It will also be noted by referring to ,Fig. 6 that as the endmost blankhas been firmly gripped by the picker shoulders 30" and 35" of the upperand lower rolls, the next adjacent blank is free to slide forwardly inthe blank tray beyond the dischargeend 18' of theslideplate 18, and theend edges bb of the endmost blank thus moved into abutment with theinner abutment edge 25 ofthe retaining ribs 25, and with the upper andlower horizontal edges of the .blank also moved into supported abutmentagainst the :convolute peripheries .30 and 35' of the upper and lowerpicker rolls. It will be noted by referring to Figs. 4 and 6, that theendmost blank is progressively outbowed along both its horizontal andvertical axes until finally released by the rotating picker rolls 3%)and 35 and the-end abutment ribs 25. By driving the upper and lowerblank picker rolls 30 and 35 in timed relationship as above indicated,thesuccessive endmost blanks may be positively removed from the blankstack in successive order and at high speed irrespective of the lengthor the flexibility characteristics of the blanks in the blank tray. Theblank picker rolls 30 and 35 are driven in timed synchronism with theblank conveyor 40 so as to successively remove endmost blanks in apositive manner and deposit thesame insuccessive order on the blankconveyor in accordance with any desired but uniform spacing.

It will be noted that the blank feeding apparatus illustrated in Figs.1, 3 and 4 has the blank supportingtray 10 thereof downwardly inclinedin the direction of move" ment of the blank supporting run of the blankconveyor. When the blank tray is so arranged, it is desirable to employupper and lower blank picker rolls 30 and 35 as above described.However, the blanksupporting tray 10 may be downwardly inclined inadirection opposite to the travel of the blank receiving run of the.blankconveyor as shown inFig. 9, and which requires thecuse of an upper"blankpicker roll only. The .blanksupportiu'g tray 10 associatedwith the'blankfeeding apparatus shown in *Fig. 9 may be similar in constructionto the fblank tray shown 1 in Figs. land '3 and above described, except"that the discharge end 18 of the slide plate18 projects :asufficientdistance to provide temporary support for the lower horizontal edge a ofthe endmost blank as it is being buckled by the upper picker roll 30preceding complete dischargeofthe endmost blank from the tray.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the upper picker -rol1'30 is mounted on ashaft 31 to which the driven sprocket 33 is attachedas"heretoforedescribed. The upper horizontal edge of the endmost blankis initially supported by the convolute peripheral surface 30 of theupper picker roll 30 until-engaged bythe radial picker shoulder 30during clockwise rotation of the upper pickerroll 30 as shown in Figs. 9and 10. "When the upper horizontal edge of the endmost blank has beenengaged bythe radial shoulder 30", the lower horizontaledge of the blankis compressed against the discharge end 181' of the slide plate 18,causing the endmost blank to buckle during continued rotation of theupper picker roll 30 as shown in Figs.9 and 10. When the upper pickerroll has been rotated to the approximate position shown in Fig. 10, theupperedge of the blank will snap out of engagement with the roll, and inits thus reflattened condition, will drop as a dispensed blank onto-theoppositely moving blankr-eceiving run of the conveyor. As soon as theupper edge of the endmost blank has been gripped by the radial shoulder30'', the horizontal edge of the next adjacent blank drops intosupported position against the convolute periphery 30' of the pickerroll 30until the roll has made a complete revolution. The longitudinalbuckling .of the'endmost blank to the approximate position shown in Fig.10 serves to withdraw the end edges b-b' of the blank from supportedengagement by the blank abutment ribs 25, whereupon the edges b*b' ofthenext adjacent blank will move into supported position against thesemicircular ribs 25.

It will thus be noted that this improved blank'feeding apparatus may beequipped and successfully operated by the-use of only a single blankpicker roll 30 whose horizontal axis is approximately in the plane ofthe upper horizontal edge a of the blank stack as shownin Figs. 9 and110, or the apparatus may be equipped with twoblank picker rolls 30 and35 whose horizontal axes extendysubstantially in the plane of the upperhorizontal edge a and the lower horizontal edge a respectively of theblank stack.

The improved blankfeeding apparatus of thisinvention maybe associatedwith any desired type of blank conveyor. As fragmentarily illustrated inFigs. 1, 3 and 9 and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, the blankconveyor 40 may comprise any suitable conveyor or belt 41 havingtransversely extending blank guides 42 secured thereto which serve toalign the blanks as: successively dropped on the belt. The conveyorbeltmay be trained around a belt supporting drum 43 supported on a shaft 44at the feed end of the conveyor, anda belt supporting drum 45 fixed to ashaft 46 at the discharge-end of the conveyor, the drum supportingshafts 44 and 46 being journaled in suitable bearings fixed to theframework of the conveyor.

Each of the conveyor belt supporting drums 43-45 may be similar inconstruction andmay assume various forms. For example, the .beltsupporting drums maybe constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 toprovidean intermediate drum section.48:and a pair of end drum sections54 arrangedin spaced relation. to the intermediateldrum section. Theintermediate drum section 48may: be formed by a pair of polygonal shapedside plates 49 fixed to a hub portion .50 which is in turnwsecured as bya spline 50' to the drum-shaft. The sideplates 49 maybe separated byspacing collars 51 and .the'platessecured together by the bolts 52. Eachof the end drum sections 54 maybe formedibyl aside wall SShavins apolygonal shaped drum flange 56 and a hub portion 57 secured as .byavset screw 57' to the drum shaft. 'I'he side plates 49"formingtheintermediate drum section 48, and the polygonal drum flanges 56 of theend drum sections 54, may be provided with aligned grooves 58 extendingtransversely across the peripheries thereof and designed to receive thespaced and transversely extending cleats 59 secured to the underside ofthe blank conveyor belt 41 to thereby prevent slippage of the blankconveyor and assure movement of the blank conveyor belt in timedsynchronism with the blank picker rolls 30 and 35.

The framework 60 of the belt-conveyor may be of any desiredconstruction, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, may comprise supportingposts 61 connected by longitudinal extending side frames 62 which are inturn connected by cross frames 63 positioned between the belt supportingdrums 43 and 45 at the head and discharge endsof the conveyor. Supportfor the drum shafts 44-46 may be provided by a pair of channel shapedbeams 64 secured to the cross frames 63, with each end of each channelbeam 64 projecting between the adjacent intermediate drum section 48 andthe adjacent end drum section 54 as shown in Fig. 1. An underslungbearing bracket 65 may be secured at each end of each of the channelbeams 64 as by securing bolts 65' shown in Fig. 3. Each underslungbearing bracket 65 may be provided with a bearing sleeve 66 whichprovides a bearing journal for the drum shaft. As thus constructed, thebelt supporting drums 4345 are free to rotate without interference fromthe supporting framework.

In the event the belt conveyor is of considerable length, the upperblank supporting run of the conveyor belt 41 may be suitably supportedto prevent sagging thereof. As shown by way of example in Fig. l, aseries of spaced cross bars 67 may be secured in spaced relation to thelongitudinal extending channel beams 64. A belt supporting plate 68,secured to the cross bars 67, provides support for the upper run of theblank conveyor belt and prevents sagging thereof. The blank conveyor mayalso be provided with side walls 69 extending along the upper run of theconveyor belt to guide the end edges b-b' of the blanks during travel onthe conveyor belt.

As indicative of the numerous forms in which the belt supporting drumsmay be made, there is shown in Fig. 9 a cylindrical belt supporting drum43 at the head end of the machine which has a friction surface 47 aroundthe periphery thereof which serves to grip the conveyor belt to preventslippage thereof, and which permits elimination of transverse drivingcleats 59 on the underside of the belt. The belt supporting drum at thedischarge end of the conveyor may also be provided with a frictionsurface 47 and may be constructed similar to the belt supporting drum atthe head end of the conveyor as shown in Fig. 9. Where cylindrical beltsupporting drums are used, a conveyor framework of any desiredconstruction may. be employed to provide journaled support for the drumshafts.

The paired blank picker rolls 30 and 35 as shown in Figs. 1 to 8inclusive, or the single blank picker roll 30 shown in Figs. 9 and 10,are preferably driven in synchronism with the movement of the upperblank receiving run of the conveyor belt 41 and from a common powersource. As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, driving synchronismbetween the conveyor belt 41 and the blank picker rolls may be obtainedby providing a common driving motor 70 and associated gear reducer 71which drives a sprocket 72. The driving sprocket 72 is connected as bychain 73 to a driven sprocket 74 fixed to a horizontally extending shaft75 journaled in bearing brackets 76 which may be attached to thesupporting posts 61 of the conveyor. The conveyor shaft 75 may beprovided with a worm 77 which meshes with a worm wheel 78 fixed to thedrum shaft 46 at the discharge end of the conveyor, thereby providing apower drive for the belt conveyor.

A helical gear 79 may be attached to the other end of the conveyorshaft'75 which serves to drive the single blank picker roll 30 of Fig.9, or the paired blank picker rolls 30 and 35 of Fig. 1, throughsuitable drive transmission. For example, the helical gear 79 may meshwith a transfer helical gear 80 as shown in Fig. 3 fixed to a stub shaft81 journaled in a bearing block 82 attached to the adjacent side frame62 of the conveyor. A drive sprocket 83 is fixed to the outer end of thestub shaft 82 and receives a drive chain 84 which is also trained aroundthe picker roll'sprocket 33 of Fig. 9, or around the paired picker rollsprockets 33 and 38 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3. An idlersprocket 85 suitably fixed to a stub shaft 86 journaled in a supportingbracket 87 attached to the adjacent supporting post 61 of the conveyor,may be provided to maintain the desired driving tension on the drivechain 84.

By a proper proportioning of the sprockets and driving connections, itwill be appreciated that the upper run of the blank conveyor may beadvanced at any desired speed relative to the rotation of the upper andlower blank picker rolls 30 and 35 to thereby establish any desired andpredetermined spacing deposition of the blanks on the upper blankreceiving run of the conveyor.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, itwill be noted by referring to Fig. 7 that the endmost blank as releasedfrom the lower picker roll 35 drops downward in a forwardly inclineddirection. The transverse blank guides 42 on the conveyor belt may be soadjusted that the lower horizontal edge a of the dispensed blank fallsinto abutment against an upwardly rising and forwardly advancingtransverse blank guide which thus serves as an abutment therefor. Thedispensed blank will then fall downwardly to rest on that section of theconveyor belt directly ahead of the blank guide 42 against which thelower horizontal edge a of the blank rests, the directly preceding blankguide 42 being sufficiently spaced from the upper horizontal edge a ofthe dispensed blank so as not to interfere with the flat depositionthereof on the conveyor belt. By an appropriate spacing of thetransverse blank guides 42 on the conveyor belt 41, and by driving theconveyor belt at a predetermined speed relative to the blank ejectingrotation of the blank picker rolls 30 and 35, successive blanks may bedeposited on the upper run of the conveyor belt in any desired spacedrelationship. If desired, the conveyor may also be provided withsuitable drag devices to sweep the top horizontal edge a of the blankinto firm abutment against the adjacent transverse blank guide 42.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the upperhorizontal edge a of the dispensed blank drops to approximatelyhorizontal position before the lower horizontal edge a thereof dropsloose from the discharge end 18 of the slide plate 18 of the blanksupporting tray. As shown in Fig. 9, the transverse blank guides 42fixed to the conveyor belt 41 are so spaced, and the traveling speed ofthe upper run of the belt is so synchronized with the rotating movementof the upper picker roll 30, that the upper horizontal edge a of thedispensed blank will fall slightly in advance of the adjacent blankguide 42.

When the dispensed blank has been deposited on the conveyor belt 41 asshown in Fig. 9, suitable friction means may be provided to drag thehorizontal edge a of the dispensed blank into uniform abutment againstthe following transverse blank guide 42.

It will be noted by referring to Figs. 1 and 9 that the blank supportingtray 10 may be adjusted by means of the adjusting struts 13, to placethe slide plate 18 which supports the bottom edge of the blank stack inany desired inclined position. By thus adjusting the inclination of theblanks: which are stacked into the tray. Thus, wherea large number ofblanks are to be stacked into the tray, the inclination of the blanktray will be adjusted so as to place the blank supporting slide plate 18at a lesser inclination than in the case where a relatively few blanksare stacked in the tray. By this adjustment, the pressure exerted bytheupper horizontal edge of the endmost. blank against the upper blankejection roll 30 as shown in Figs. 1 to 9, as well as the pressureexerted by the bottom horizontal edge of the endmost blank against thebottom ejection roll 35 as shown in Fig. 1, may be maintained substantially uniform, thereby insuring positive withdrawal and ejection ofsuccessive endmost blanks from the blank stack, irrespective of thenumber of blanks which are stacked in the blank tray.

Blank feeding apparatus operating in synchronized association with anyform or kind of blank conveyor may be constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention to separate endmost blanks in successive andrapid order from a blank stack and deposit the same in uniform spacedrelationship on the blank conveyor. Blank feeding apparatus may beprovided in accordance with this invention to positively separate, ejectand deposit almost any kind and form of blank, including elongatedblanks which have serious flexure and bowing characteristics, and whichare particularly difficult to separate and deposit on a blank conveyorin successive and uniform order. The blank feeding apparatus of thisinvention is simple in design and construction, has relatively fewmoving parts, and is designed to permit replacement and substitution ofpicker rolls of varying diameters and lengths, with picker shoulders ofvarying radial depth, and best suited to the separation and feeding ofindividual blanks from a blank stack whose blanks are of variouslengths, thickness and flexibility characteristics.

While certain novel features of this invention have been disclosedherein and are pointed out in the claims, it will be understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, supporting the. bottom edges of the blank stackon a supporting surface, releasably supporting the end edges of theendmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position withthe upper side edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging thebottom side edge thereof to thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, and while releasably support ingthe end edges of the endmost blank, applying a forwardly directed blankcompressing force. against the upper horizontal side edge of the endmostblank at only edge points which are inwardly spaced from the releasablysupported end edges of the blank to thereby outbow the endmost blankalong both its horizontal and vertical axes a sufficient extent toelfectuate separation of the endmost blank from the next adjacent blankand inward withdrawal of the end edges of the endmost blank fromsupported position.

2. The method of successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, supporting the bottom edges of the blank stack ona supporting surface, releasably supporting the end edges of the endmostblank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position with theupper side edge of the endmost blank overhanging the bottom side edgethereof to thereby retain the blank stack in upwardly extendingforwardly inclined position, and while releasably supporting the endedges of the endmost blank, applying a forwardly directed blankcompressing force against the top and bottom side edges of the endmostblank at only edge points which are inwardly spaced from the releasablysupported end edges 10 of the, blank to thereby outbow the endmost blankalong both its horizontal and vertical axes a sufiicient extent toeffectuate separation of the endmost blank from the next adjacent blankand inward Withdrawal of the end edges of the endmost blank fromsupported position.

3. The method of successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, supporting the bottom edges of the blank stack ona forwardly inclined supporting surface, releasably supporting the endedges of the endmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclinedposition with the upper side edge of the endmost blank overhanging thebottom side edge thereof to thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, and while releasably supportingthe end edges of the endmost blank, applying a downwardly and forwardlydirected force against the upper horizontal side edge of the endmostblank at only edge points which are inwardly spaced from the releasablysupported end edges of the blank to thereby outbow the endmost blankalong both its horizontal and vertical axes a sufficient extent toeffectuate separation of the endmost blank from the next adjacent blankand inward withdrawal of the end edges of the endmost blank fromsupported position.

4. A method of successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, supporting the bottom edges of the blank stack onan inclined supporting surface, releasably supporting the end edges ofthe endmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined positionwith the upper side edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging thebottom side edge thereof to thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, and while releasably supportingthe end edges of the endmost blank, applying an upwardly and forwardlydirected force against the bottom side edge of the endmost blank andsubstantially simultaneously applying a downwardly and forwardlydirected force against the upper side edge of the endmost blank at onlyedge points which are inwardly spaced from the releasably supported endedges of the endmost blank to thereby outbow the endmost blank alongboth its horizontal and vertical axes a sufiicient extent to effectuateseparation of the endmost blank from the next adjacent blank and inwardwithdrawal of the end edges of the end-most blank from supportedposition.

5. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, an inclined member for supporting the bottomedges of the blank stack, a pair of upwardly extending and forwardlyinclined, abutment means designed to releasably engage the opposite endedges of the endmost blank and releasably retain the endmost stack inupwardly extending and forwardly inclined position with the upper sideedge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging the bottom side edgethereof and thereby retain the blank stack in up wardly extendingforwardly inclined position, rotatable means operative to engage ahorizontal side edge of the endmost blank at only edge points which areinwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edges of the endmostblank, and means for driving said rotatable means while the end edges ofthe endmost blank are releasably supported by said abutment means tothereby outbow the endmost blank along both its horizontal and verticalaxes a sufficient extent to effectuate separation of the endmost blankfrom the next adjacent blank and inward withdrawal of the end edgesthereof from engagement with said abutment means.

6. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, a forwardly inclined member for supporting thebottom edges of the blank stack, a pair of upwardly extending andforwardly inclined abutment elements designed to releasably engage theopposite end edges of the endmost blank and releasably retain theendmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position withthe upper side edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging thebottom side edge thereof and thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, rotatable means operative toengage the upper side edge of the endmost blank at only edge pointswhich are inwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edges of theendmost blank, and means for driving said rotatable means while the endedges of the endmost blank are releasably supported by said abutmentelements to thereby outbow the endmost blank along both its horizontaland vertical axes a sufficient extent to effectuate separation of theendmost blank from the next adjacent blank and inward withdrawal of theend edges thereof from engagement with said abutment elements.

7. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, an inclined bottom member for supporting thebottom edges of the blank stack, a pair of upwardly extending andforwardly inclined abutment elements designed to releasably engage theopposite end edges of the endmost blank and releasably retain theendmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position withthe upper side edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging thebottom side edge thereof and thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, means for limiting the upwardmovement of the endmost blank, rotatable means operative to engage thebottom side edge of the endmost blank at only edge points which areinwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edges of the endmostblank, and means for driving said rotatable means while the end edges ofthe endmost blank are releasably supported by said abutment elements tothereby outbow the endmost blank along both its horizontal and verticalaxes a sufiicient extent to effectuate separation of the endmost blankfrom the next adjacent blank and inward withdrawal of the end edgesthereof from engagement with said abutment elements.

8. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, a forwardly inclined bottom member for supportingthe bottom edges of the blank stack, a pair of upwardly extending andforwardly inclined abutment elements designed to releasably engage theopposite end edges of the endmost blank and releasably retain theendmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position withthe upper side edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging thebottom side edge thereof and thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, spaced rotatable means operativeto engage the upper and lower side edges of the endmost blank and applya forward flexing force to the endmost blank at only edge points whichare inwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edges of theendmost blank, and means for driving said rotatable means in oppositedirections while the end edges of the endmost blank are releasablysupported by said abutment elements to thereby outbow the endmost blankalong both its horizontal and vertical axes a sufiicient extent toeffectuate separation of the endmost blank from the next adjacent blankand inward withdrawal of the end edges thereof from engagement with saidabutment elements and discharge the endmost blank between said rotatablemeans.

9. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stack ofblanks which includes, a forwardly inclined bottom plate for supportingthe bottom edges of the blank stack, side walls for guiding the forwardmovement of the blanks in the stack, a pair of upwardly extending andforwardly inclined abutment elements designed to releasably engage theend edges of the endmost blank and releasably retain the endmost blankin upwardly extending and forwardly inclined position with the upperside edge of the endmost blank forwardly overhanging the bottom sideedge thereof and thereby retain the blank stack in upwardly extendingforwardly inclined position, spaced rotatable members operative toengage the upper and lower' side edges of the endmost blank at only edgepoints which are inwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edgesof the blank, and means for continuously rotating said members inopposite directions while the end edges of the endmost blank arereleasably supported by said abutment elements to thereby outbow theendmost blank along both its horizontal and vertical axes a sufficientextent to effectuate separation of the endmost blank from the nextadjacent blank and inward withdrawal of the end edges of the endmostblank from engagement with said abutment elements and discharge theendmost blank between said rotatable members.

10. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stackof blanks which includes, a stack holder having a forwardly inclinedbottom member for supporting the bottom edges of the blank stack, a pairof upwardly extending and forwardly inclined abutment elements designedto releasably engage the end edges of the endmost blank and releasablyretain the endmost blank in vertically extending and forwardly inclinedposition with the upper side edge of the endmost blank overhanging thebottom side edge thereof and thereby retain the blank stack in upwardlyextending forwardly inclined position, a blank picker roll having asubstantially radially extending abutment shoulder in the peripherythereof with the ends of said abutment shoulder terminatingsubstantially inwardly of and in spaced relation to said blanksupporting abutment elements, said roll being rotatably mounted adjacenta horizontal side edge of the endmost blank, and means for continuouslyrotating said blank picker roll in the same direction to thereby movethe abutment shoulder thereof into engagement with the adjacenthorizontal side edge of the endmost blank while the end edges thereofare releasably supported by said abutment elements and thence apply aforward flexing force to the endmost blank at edge points which areinwardly spaced from the releasably supported end edges of the endmostblank to thereby outbow the endmost blank along both its horizontal andvertical axes for a suflicient extent to withdraw the end edges thereoffrom engagement with said end abutment elements.

11. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stackof blanks which includes, a stack holder having a bottom member forsupporting the bottom edges of the blank stack, abutment means designedto releasably engage the end edges of the endmost blank and releasablyretain the endmost blank in upwardly extending and forwardly inclinedposition, a blank picker roll having a substantially radially extendingabutment shoulder Whose radial depth is substantially equal to thethickness of a single blank and whose ends terminate substantiallyinwardly of and in spaced relation to said abutment means, means forrotatably mounting said picker roll adjacent a horizontal side edge ofthe endmost blank with the periphery of said roll in a position toprovide an abutment support for the adjacent horizontal side edge of theendmost blank, and means for continuously rotating said picker roll inthe same direction to thereby move the abutment shoulder thereof intoengagement with the adjacent horizontal side edge of the endmost blankat edge points which are inwardly spaced from the end edges of the blankwhile the end edges thereof are releasably supported by said abutmentmeans and thence to apply a forward flexing force to the endmost blankto thereby outbow the endmost blank along both its horizontal andvertical axes for a sufficient extent to effect withdrawal of the endedges thereof from engagement with said end abutment means.

12. Apparatus for successively removing the endmost blank from a stackof blanks which includes, a stack holder having a forwardly inclinedbottom member for supporting the bottom edges of the blank stack, apair,

, 13 of upwardly extending and forwardly inclined abutment elementsdesigned to releasably engage the opposite end edges of the endmostblank and releasably retain the endmost blank in upwardly extending andforwardly inclined position with the upper edge of the endmost blankoverhanging the bottom edge thereof, a pair of rotatably mounted rollseach having a radially extending abutment shoulder on the peripherythereof whose ends terminate substantially inwardly of and in spacedrelation to said abutment elements, said rolls being positioned toprovide abutments for the adjacent upper and bottom side edges of theendmost blank, means for rotatably mounting said rolls adjacent theupper and bottom side edges of the endmost blank, and means forcontinuously rotating said rolls in opposite directions whereby theabutment shoulders thereof will engage the upper and lower side edges ofthe endmost blank and apply a for- 14 a ward flexing force to theendmost blank along points inwardly spaced from the end edges of theendmost blank, and While the end edges of the endmost blank arereleasably supported by said abutment elements, to thereby outbow theendmost blank along both the horizontal and vertical axes thereof for asuificient extent to withdraw the end edges of the endmost blank fromengagement with said end abutment elements and discharge the endmostblank between said rolls during rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS770,696 Peters et a1. Sept. 20, 1904 907,944 Abrams Dec. 29, 19081,916,723 Ferrar July 4, 1933

